Philosopher David Hume

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, in his essay "Of the Original Contract", David Hume affirmed that the sovereign power of the government emanated from the people themselves; thus, the people have the power to resist the sovereign power of the government whenever the government fails to do its intended job. The author points out that, in general, contractarianism is an agreement between the society and the people in power for the purpose of maintaining peace and order. The paper relates that Hume focused not on the power of the individual, but on the power of these individuals as group or community. The author also notes Hume's belief that, without a society, there is no government but there can still be a society even without a government.

Table of Contents:
Contractarianism and its Forms
Hume on the Variants of Contractarianism
Hume in his own Refutations
Modernity and Civil Society

From the Paper:

"One will also notice that as to compare with other contractarians, given the situation, David Hume justified the resistance and disobedience on the part of the people from the sovereign government. It is also noticeable that his concept of contract is far less individualistic and statist. I believe so because Hume focused not on the power of the individual but on the power of these individuals as group or community. I believe this subject, the power of the community, is the consent of the people rendered and given to the government."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Cahoone, L. (1996). From Modernism to Post-Modernism: An Anthology. Oxford: Blackwell Publisher
• Ebenstein A. & Ebenstein W. (2000). Great Political Thinkers: Plato to Present (6th ed.). Orlando, Fl.: Hardcourt College Publisher
• Finlay, C.J. (n.d). Hume's Theory of Civil Society. European Journal of Political Theory, 3(4), 369-391
• Gauthier, D. (1979). David Hume, Contractarian. The Philosophical Review, 88, 3-38
• Hume, David. Of The Original Contract in Essays, Morals, Political and Literary. Library of Economics and Liberty. Retrieved: September 17, 2007 from World Wide Web: http://www.econlib.org/LIBRARY/LFBooks/Hume/hmMPL35.html

More papers on Philosopher David Hume:

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• Essay # 31323 : "David Hume's and Skepticism"

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